Bonnie Mae RASMUSSEN

1952 - 2018

RASMUSSEN, Bonnie Mae
(Kleinsasser)

Was born July 4, 1952 to Willard and Delores Kleinsasser (Wipf) in Huron SD. Bonnie lived on a farm east of Huron until the age of three, moving to a farm east of Cavour and living there until her marriage. Bonnie was baptized on July 3, 1965 and was an active member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church until her death on April 15, 2018. Bonnie was surrounded by dear friends and family as she passed peacefully in her home.
Bonnie grew up on the farm and spoke often how much sheenjoyed farm life. She had many pets including dogs, cats, babay geese, and bottle lambs. She enjoyed driving her dad's John Deere tractor at harvest time.
Bonnie attended the little one-room country school located on the corner of the family farm. The little country school closed when she was eight years old, and after that, she attended Cavour Public School, and then graduated from Prairie View SDA Church School in 1965. She attended Oak Park Academy in Nevada, IA and graduated in 1970. She also attended Union College in Lincoln, NE.
On July 18, 1971 she married Robert Wiedemann of Muscatine, IA. She and Robert lived in Muscatine for 10 years before moving to Appleton, WI. She and Robert had three boys, Jeremy, Shane, and Seth. Bonnie was a stay-at-home mom for many years, and also worked as a receptionist in Robert's practice for many years. Following her divorce to Robert in 1995, she worked as an administrative assistant for nine years.
She loved her boys very much, and their mom was cherished by them. She often said "My boys are my life".
On June 9, 2002, Bonnie married Don Rasmussen Sr. of Spangle WA, the brother of her best friend, Ethel Conner. After her retirement in 2004, she moved to Spangle, WA. Don and Bonnie lived in a refurbished two-story school building. For many years, they opened their home to numerous guests, primarily parents of students attending Upper-Columbia Adventist Academy. Bonnie loved serving breakfast to her guests and getting acquainted with them. She gained many new friends through her hospitality.
She was preceded in death by her parents Willard (2011) and Delores (1994) as well as her husband, Don (2016). She is also preceded in death by her stepdaughter Toni Killifer.
She is survived by her loving stepmother, Verna Kleinsasser of Huron, SD, and her three sons: Jeremy (Susie) of Bozeman, MT, Shane (Barb) of Ridgecrest, CA, and Seth (Lorren) of Niles, MI. She is survived by five stepchildren: Teri (Jon) Juneau, AK, Donald Jr. of Cheney, WA, Ronald (Stephanie) of Glendale, AZ, Lori (Dave) of Australia, and Jeni (Ben) of Bellingham, WA; six grandchildren: Paul, Miriam, Evelyn, and Jared of Ridgecrest, CA, Isaac and Ethan of Bozeman, MT, and twin daughters expected to arrive in Niles, MI in August 2018. She is survived by eight stepgrandchildren: Ellen, Ian, and Ned of Baltimore, MD, Aaron and Karsten of Glendale, AZ, Melanie and Bradley of Bellingham, WA, Zachary and Nathaniel of Australia.
A memorial service will be held at the Upper-Columbia Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, we are requesting that loved ones make a donation to the Upper Columbia Academy "Missions" or "Worthy Student Fund". Make checks to: Upper Columbia Academy, With Memo: In Memory of Bonnie Rasmussen (missions/worthy student fund), Upper Columbia Academy, 3025 E. Spangle Waverly Rd., Spangle, WA 99031 (509) 245-3600.
CHENEY FUNERAL CHAPEL, Cheney, WA